Woman: Trash can containing remains started smelling in April

Sep. 4, 2012

1231 W. Edgewood Street in Springfield. / Dean Curtis/News-Leader

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A trash can found in July containing human remains began smelling in mid-April, a woman told the News-Leader today.

The remains have been identified by Marionville Police Chief Mark Webb as belonging to Kelly Frech. Her remains were found in a trash can on July 3 at 1231 W. Edgewood in Springfield. That’s the last known address of Adam Bergseth, who was shot and killed by a Marionville police officer on June 30 after Bergseth allegedly approached the officer with a pair of scissors.

Marionville Police Chief Mark Webb said Frech met Bergseth in Florida, but he did not know the nature of their relationship. He said he also isn’t sure where in Florida Frech was from.

Cheynne Nava, 21, said she met Bergseth on April 1 and had been in an “open relationship” with him. Bergseth told her that a man who was upset that he had been involved with his fiance had thrown a severed pig head in his car, which he had then placed in a trash can that was in the garage, Nava said.

Because of the smell, he eventually placed the trash can away from the house, she said. Those who knew Bergseth said he had told them a dead animal had been in the vehicle, Webb said.

“That’s how he was justifying the odors to his buddies,” Webb said.

Webb said during an investigation after the shooting, a car Bergseth had been driving was traced to Frech. He said the car smelled odd, as if something dead had been inside.

When Webb went to Springfield after Bergseth was killed, he told Springfield police he had reason to believe there may be human or animal remains at Bergseth’s Edgewood address and to meet him at the location.

After authorities discovered the remains, Webb said Springfield police took over the investigation and that he has no information about developments in the case since then.

Nava told the News-Leader early on the morning of June 13, police responded to complaints that patrons at the bar Dennis’ Place had not paid their tab. Among the group who had not paid up were Nava and Bergseth.

A credit card for Frech that Bergseth tried to use to pay the tab was declined, Nava said. After that, Nava said she figured out that Bergseth had lied about his age (he was 37, not 31) and about his occupation — that he was a novelist, video game developer and restaurant owner.

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Later that day, a police incident report for identity theft was filed, listing Frech as the victim and Bergseth’s address as the location.

Nava said that while she was with Bergseth, he had several documents with Frech’s name on it. When she asked about it, Bergseth said it was an alias he used.

Court records show Frech was renting an apartment at 1710 West Erie Street in Springfield. A lawsuit was filed March 19 by Hunter’s Glen Inc. against Frech for failure to pay rent. She owed one month’s rent — $430.

Frech failed to appear for an April 25 court date. A court order issued May 9 to allow the Greene County Sheriff’s Office to take possession of the apartment and return it to the landlord went unexecuted because it was recalled by Hunter’s Glen on May 10.

Cpl. Matt Brown, police spokesperson, declined to release additional information about the case or confirm statements made by Webb. He did say no arrests have been made.

Bergseth was shot by Marionville police Officer Danny Hughes. Bergseth allegedly approached Hughes with a pair of scissors after holding a woman against her will.

Webb said the woman is married and had apparently been with Bergseth earlier in the day when she texted a friend, who called police.

An arrest warrant from Greene County Circuit Court was issued June 15 for Bergseth after he failed to appear at a probation violation hearing. Bergseth's probation stems from charges in 2008 of drunken driving and operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license. Bergseth pleaded guilty.

According to a violation report from the Missouri Department of Corrections' Board of Probation and Parole, Bergseth had been accused of 12 probation violations since 2008, such as failing to show up for a urinalysis test or retain employment.